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And The 4 chapters of Philippians contain some of the most-quoted and beloved passages in Scripture. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” This Is Just A Sampling Philippians 1:21 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” Philippians 4:4 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6 “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” Philippians 4:12 “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

Despite our familiarity, we must be careful not to miss And Despite our familiarity, we must be careful not to miss this epistle’s deeper themes. Themes such as the fellowship and unity Paul shared with the Christians at Philippi. And it was a fellowship and unity that was based on their mutual commitment to the Gospel. It’s all about the Gospel! The Gospel was the CENTER of their bond ... as it should be with US!

And Fellowship – Common Usage Fellowship Hall FELLOWSHIP

And Fellowship – Common Usage Fellowship Meal FELLOWSHIP

Fellowship – Common Usage And Fellowship – Common Usage Used as an Adjective to Describe an Object

Despite our familiarity, we must be careful not to miss And Despite our familiarity, we must be careful not to miss this epistle’s deeper themes. Themes such as the fellowship and unity Paul shared with the Christians at Philippi. And it was a fellowship and unity that was based on their mutual commitment to the Gospel. It’s all about the Gospel! The Gospel was the CENTER of their bond ... as it should be with US! Paul’s central call in this letter was: Philippians 1:27 “let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.” - So their life must reflect the gospel, as does their - fellowship with Paul must reflect the gospel.

In This Lesson ... And this is what we see in the letter ... Philippians 1:3-5 koinonia “I thank my God ... because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” fellowship Partnership = ‘sharing in common’; ‘participation’ They participated with Paul in his gospel work. In This Lesson ... Want to look at the relationship Paul had with the Philippian church, and the relationship the Philippian church had with Paul. They had a special godly bond ... evidenced by Paul calling them his “beloved.” (Phil 2:12; 4:1) When we read of close Christian bonds like what we read in this epistle, it is to our benefit to see the nature and the details of that relationship.

Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship Scripture Reading: Philippians 1:3-11 Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship Translation: ESV Unless Otherwise Noted

Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship And Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship 4 Marks of True Fellowship - These are seen in the opening remarks Paul makes to - this church in 1:3-11. 1. Praying for One Another (1:3-4) “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you” (v3) - When we pray for each other, we should thank God for - each other. - Often when we offer thanksgiving to God in prayer, we - pray about: God’s provisions – spiritual and physical God’s mercy and forgiveness Answered prayer But shouldn’t we also include thanksgiving for one another.

Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship And Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship - Consider the frequency ... ‘in all my remembrance of you.’ - He just has to think of them, and he’s offering thanks. Can we do that for each other in the church? “... making my prayer with joy” (v4) - This is a mark of true fellowship! Gospel Advocate Commentary “His prayer for them was the outflowing of an entirely joyful heart. Often he prayed for his brethren with deep grief and tears, but not so for this devoted church. For them he had made supplication with joy.” Our priority as a church should be our devotion to God, and be the people he would have us to be. And our prayers should contain requests to help and empower our brethren to serve the Lord.

Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship And Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship 2. Partnering in God’s Work (1:5, 7) “... your partnership in the gospel” (v5) Gospel Advocate Commentary “To fellowship with Jesus is to partake of or take part in his poverty and want, to share in his sorrows, his sufferings and self-denial of this world, as well as partake of the joys and hopes, the consolations and blessedness of this world, and the hopes and glories of the world to come. We must suffer with him if we would reign with him. HERE it certainly refers to their sympathy, common faith with Paul in the truths he had taught them, common sufferings they had endured for the truth, and the watchful interest with which they followed him and the prayers in his behalf and the contributions sent him.”

Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship And Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship - There is a temptation to believe that the Philippians’ - partnership with Paul only and exclusively involved their - financial aid to him ... and nothing more. But their support of Paul was so much more than just money. Their financial support was the fruit of the fellowship/relationship they enjoyed with Paul. From ‘Day 1’ ... from their very beginnings when Paul preached to them the foundation message of Christ, they supported Paul in his ministry. Saved by it These were people of the GOSPEL. Supporters of it - Paul said that they were partakers with him in God’s v7 grace; they were sharers in his bonds and in his work. Philippians 1:29-30

Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship And Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship 3. Trusting in God’s Sovereign Working in 3. One Another (1:6) God is the power behind the good works of the Emphasis church. He enables the work. “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.” (v6) God commissions the work. God sustains the work. God upholds the work during difficult trial. God delivers the work to completion bearing fruit. Philippians 2:12-13 “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” When we do this ... it is a SURRENDER. It is God who perfects fellowship in the Gospel.

Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship And Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship 4. Heartfelt Affection for One Another (1:8) “For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus” (v8) - Paul had strong love for the brethren in Philippi, but it - wasn’t so much Paul, as it was Christ Jesus living in Paul. Galatians 2:20 “... it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” - The love and affection of Paul, was the love and affection - of Christ. This is the IMPACT Christ should have on us ... because we are in FELLOWSHIP with Christ

Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship And Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship CHRIST Fellowship Triangle MYSELF BRETHREN The love of Christ will be shared among all those with whom we have Christian fellowship Warning: 1 John 4:19-21

Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship And Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship 4. Heartfelt Affection for One Another (1:8) “For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus” (v8) - Paul had strong love for the brethren in Philippi, but it - wasn’t so much Paul, as it was Christ Jesus living in Paul. Galatians 2:20 “... it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” - The love and affection of Paul, was the love and affection - of Christ. This is the IMPACT Christ should have on us ... because we are in FELLOWSHIP with Christ This love should still be present even during some of the difficult times among the brethren. Philippians 4:2-3

Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship And Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship Paul pleaded that these two women AGREE A plea for FELLOWSHIP and UNITY Euodia Syntyche And he still loved these fellow workers of his. Philippians 4:1 “Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.” Paul loved every member of this beloved church.

Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship And Philippians: Marks of True Fellowship The Fruit of These Marks The fruit of these marks of true fellowship was the Philippian church’s zeal to financially support Paul in the ministry of the Gospel of Christ. Philippians 1:3-5 Philippians 4:14-18 Praying for One Another Partnering in God’s Work Trusting in God’s Sovereign Working in One Another Heartfelt Affection for One Another Fellowship: “One Another” and “Partnering” When we so partner with one another in God’s work, we will get it done (through God’s power) ... TOGETHER.